A BRIDGE blighted by vandals in a Westhoughton beauty spot is to undergo a £55,000 makeover.

The concrete footbridge in Hall Lea Bank Park, described as an "eyesore" by councillors, is set to be replaced by the end of February with a timber bridge.

After many years propped up by scaffolding, the bridge over a stream in the park will be given a new lease of life, with the rustic wooden design chosen to match the Edwardian origins of the park.

Council chiefs expect the cost of removing the bridge, strengthening its support and installing the new bridge to reach £55,000 plus fees.

Cllr Christopher Peacock, for Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, said he was delighted the council is funding the replacement.

The new bridge will further boost a "little treasure of Westhoughton", as Cllr Peacock described Hall Lea Bank Park.

He said: "The bridge itself has been in an awful state for a while and it will break down eventually.

"The park is a little treasure of Westhoughton, a lovely place to go for a walk.

"It is a bit of a gem."

A combination of wear and tear and vandalism over the last 10 years has prompted the calls for a replacement.

The bridge is not the original one that was installed when the park, a local nature reserve, was opened in Edwardian times.

Three trees will have to be felled to allow the work to go ahead, but all have structural defects which may have been problematic, according to the council.

It is possible that engineers will be forced to close the park for at least two days while the new bridge is brought in.

Cllr Peacock said he first raised the issue with the council after residents had complained that the old concrete bridge looked "awful".

He added: "I immediately thought it would be great to do something but knew the council's budget constraints would mean it would not happen overnight.

"It has been on their list of things needing attention for a while and now they have got there I am absolutely delighted."

Posters updating the public about the progress of the job will be displayed at the park.

The work, due to start at the end of January and last about a month, might be delayed if there is a particularly lengthy spate of bad weather after Christmas, the council said.

At 1.8 metres wide it will be marginally narrower than the present bridge but will allow disabled access.